Page 63 of Home Safe

Amy, Carlos’ fiancée, steps forward to introduce herself, followed by the other three ladies here. Adrian swoops in with an enthusiastic hug, and Danae looks genuinely relieved to see another semi-familiar face. All of the starting position players are here, plus one of our pitchers, bringing the total to fourteen people, aside from Danae and me. Maybe throwing her into the deep end like this wasn’t the best idea—then again, thisismy world, my circle of people. If we’re going to last, she needs to know my world.

By the end of the night, Danae’s smile is coming easily. The other WAGs have freely shared experiences and tips for staying connected with their men during baseball season, a ploy I did not even put them up to. I hope it’s helped ease Danae’s mind somewhat about our impending separation.

The guys, for their part, do all they can to embarrass me in front of Danae. Little do they know, I’d cough up endless embarrassing stories so long as she keeps laughing and looking at me with that twinkle in her eye each time.

As the night winds down, we say our goodbyes. Danae looks entirely comfortable as she gives hugs to the ladies (and Adrian). “Thanks so much for hosting tonight,” she says to Lily as we linger in the foyer. “It was really nice to meet everyone.”

“Will I see you at spring training at all?” Lily asks, and Danae looks over to me.

“People are allowed at spring training?” Danae asks. I’m not sure how I fell for a woman who knows nothing about baseball.

I’ve absolutely fallen for this woman.The realization hits me like a line drive straight to the glove. I cover up my thoughts with a smile and tell her, “Yes, we actually play around thirty games during spring training that fans can come and watch. The starters usually don’t play much at the beginning since the team is feeling out which backup guys they’re going to keep on the roster. I was hoping I could maybe fly you and Jason out over part of your spring break, if you’d be open to it.”

“If you do come, I’ll show you all the ropes,” Lily adds. “I’ll get your number from Griffin and text you so you have mine.”

On the drive back to Danae’s place, she asks, “You’d really want us to come out to spring training?”

I glance over at her and respond, “Of course, I would. I mean, I’d beg you to fly out there for the entire six weeks if you didn’t have that pesky job.” Danae snickers, and I reach a hand over to hold hers. “I’ll pay for the tickets for both of you, a hotel room, everything. I’m going to be dying to see you by then.”

“Could you find a place to pull over for a minute?” Danae asks.

Concerned that she might be car sick, I pull off on the next exit, even though there are no gas stations or restaurants to park at. I pull to the side of the road and put on my hazard lights. “Are you okay? Are you feeling sick?” I ask, pivoting to face her. She looks fine.

“No, I’m not sick,” Danae says. She tilts her head to one side, studying me. “It’s just that this is the last time we’ll be alone before you leave, since we’re doing dinner together with Jason tomorrow.”

Danae leans closer to me, raising the temperature of the blood in my veins. The temperature reaches a boiling point when she runs her fingers along my beard. “If this is the last time I get to be alone with you, I wanted to do this.”

She places a gentle, tantalizing kiss to my lips before drawing back enough to search my eyes. When her lips meet mine again, it’s desperate and pleading, matching the hungry passion in my kiss, in my grip on her waist, her neck, her face.

When I feel moisture on her cheek, I lean back to search for the source. Tears pour from her eyes. “Shhh, it’s okay. What’s wrong?”

Her voice cracks as she says, “I really don’t want you to leave.”

I pull her head to rest in the crook of my neck, clutching her to me like she’ll disappear if I lose contact. “I know. I don’t want to leave you either.”

“I’m scared, Griff. Scared that I let myself get close to you only for you to be gone,” she whispers, clutching a fistful of my shirt.

“But I’m coming back. I’m not gone forever,” I try to reassure her. I reach a hand up into her hair to scratch her scalp.

Her voice is thick as she says, “I know it’s not that long, but what if I can’t handle it? The time apart? Things with Jason are so overwhelming sometimes, and I don’t know if I can bear the emotional burden of being away from you on top of it. We’ve only known each other for six weeks, but I . . . I get so anxious every time I think about not seeing you. Which is ridiculous. I should be able to handle it. I shouldn’t be breaking out in cold sweats when I think about a guy I’ve known less than two months not being around for a few weeks. I’m being—”

“Danae,” I cut in, hoping to break the thought spiral she’s having. “I get a pit in my stomach every time I think about leaving you. I get this buildup of anxious energy when I think about not seeing you for six weeks too. When I think about not being able to hop in my car and drive to your house to help if Jason has another bad day. I don’t want to handle the time apart either. It’s not only you feeling this way.”

She sighs, and her breath warms my neck. I’m scanning my memory for everything I’ve learned about Danae, trying to think of how to help her feel better in this moment. “Hey, why don’t we make a list of all the ways we’re going to cope with the time apart?”

Danae sniffs, still clinging to me. The sensation of her so tightly holding me—not wanting to let go—is spellbinding. As much as I don’t want to break the spell (or the physical contact), I do want her to end the night feeling more confident. I continue, “I don’t have any legalpads handy, but we can use the notes app on your phone. Let’s write down all the things the other WAGs told you tonight about how they handle the time apart, and we can come up with some of our own ideas.”

She nods against my chest before sitting up. Cold air rushes in to fill the void of her warmth nuzzled into my neck, a stark reminder of what lies ahead of us. My chest seizes as I get choked up at the thought, but I will it away while Danae is distracted retrieving her phone from her purse.You’re supposed to be the strong support right now. Not the one falling apart.

As Danae pulls up a blank note on her phone, we start listing out the suggestions that Lily and the other women gave her tonight. Some of the advice included daily text messages, video calls, and a trip in person if possible.

“Amy mentioned she focuses on a hobby she doesn’t usually have time for to keep herself distracted and busy. I’m not sure how applicable that is for me. I’ll still have teaching and Jason and everything about regular daily life,” Danae says, sounding defeated.

“Sam will still be here in KC for the majority of the time,” I say. “I guarantee you she still wants to babysit so you can go to book club. Maybe even join a second book club.”

A smile cracks through on Danae’s face. “Two book clubs, huh?”

“All the book clubs you want, babe,” I say, and her eyes flicker at the term of endearment that slipped out. Her smile grows wider.

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